title: Effect of folic acid deficiency on nonspecific immunity (phagocytic activity and nitroblue - tetrazolium reduction).
abstract: Fifty three critically ill patients (two of the following criteria : thyroxin - binding - prealbumin less than or = to 24 mg/dl, creatinin - height - index less than or = to 80 percent and transferrin less than or = to 225 mg/dl) were divided into two groups according to the level of folic acid (FA). Group A consisted of 29 with FA less than or = to 3 ng/ml and group B of 24 with FA greater than 3 ng/ml. The phagocytic activity (PA) was significantly lower in group A and significantly corrected by AB sera, whereas the NBT reduction capacities were within the normal range. A correlation is shown between PA and level of FA as well in autologous sera as in AB sera.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium